RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that 89 Virginia public schools have met the rigorous criteria required to earn the Governor's Award for Educational Excellence. The award is the highest honor under a new incentive program for schools and school divisions created by the Board of Education to advance Governor Kaine's "competence to excellence" agenda.

"Students in these schools are soaring far beyond the minimum requirements of the Standards of Learning and No Child Left Behind," said Governor Kaine. "It speaks to the strength of public education in the Commonwealth that the 89 schools that have earned this distinction include schools in rural, suburban and urban communities and schools in every part of the state."

The Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) program awards points to schools and divisions based on the percentage of students achieving at the advanced level on Standards of Learning assessments and progress made toward educational goals advocated by Governor Kaine and adopted by the Board as part of its comprehensive plan for further strengthening public education in the Commonwealth.

To qualify for the Governor's Award for Educational Excellence, schools and school divisions must meet all state and federal achievement benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and meet Governor Kaine's goals for achievement in elementary reading; enrollment in Algebra I by grade 8; enrollment in college-level courses; attainment of advanced diplomas and career and industry certifications; and participation, if eligible, in the Virginia Preschool Initiative. Schools and school divisions also earn bonus points for other performance measures, including the Governor's Nutrition and Physical Activity Scorecard.

The 89 schools earning the Governor's Award for Educational Excellence will each receive a display banner and a signed resolution of commendation from Governor Kaine.

Nineteen school divisions and 475 schools earned the Board of Education's VIP Excellence Award, the second-tier honor in the VIP program. These schools and divisions also have met all state and federal accountability benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and have made significant progress toward goals for increased student achievement and expanded educational opportunity set by Governor Kaine and the Board of Education.

Twenty-five school divisions and 322 schools earned the Board of Education's VIP Competence to Excellence Award. This award recognizes schools and districts that have met all state and federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and are making progress toward VIP objectives reflecting the goals of Governor Kaine and the Board.

"The criteria for all of these awards are rigorous," said Board of Education President Mark E. Emblidge. "That so many schools and school divisions qualified reflects the commitment of educators across the Commonwealth to excellence and high standards."

Schools and divisions earning the Board of Education's Excellence Award and Competence to Excellence Award will each receive a resolution of commendation from the Board.

The Board of Education approved the Virginia Index of Performance in July 2007 in response to Governor Kaine's call for a formal system to recognize schools and school divisions that exceed minimum state and federal accountability standards. The multi-tiered VIP program provides incentives for improved performance and opportunities for recognition regardless of where a school or school division happens to be on the journey from competence to excellence.

"Minimum standards are not enough to prepare young people for the competition that awaits them in a global economy," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Billy K. Cannaday Jr. "The VIP program provides incentives for schools to challenge students to ever-higher levels of learning and achievement."

A fourth VIP award, the Board of Education's Rising Star Award, will be added next fall to recognize schools and school divisions for improved performance with student achievement during 2007-2008 as the baseline from which progress is measured.

The 89 schools earning the Governor's Award for Educational Excellence are

Albemarle County – Virginia L. Murray Elementary and Western Albemarle High